Mr_Ross_Duncan
Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,
- Mar 6, 2018
- 118
- 302
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Via Gebennensis, Portuguese, Via Francigena, GR65,
Sounds implausible, walking into Santiago and not seeing anyone else on the road.
Implausible but true.
I followed the Via Gebennensis from Geneva to Le-Puy, then the Via Podiensis from Le-Puy to Saint Jean then the Camino Frances from Saint Jean to Ponferrada then the Camino Invierno into Santiago.
On my last day, from Ponte Ulla to Santiago, I was neither passed by nor saw a single other walker.
And that's both surprising and a real shame.
The Invierno was a delight, it dips and bobs in and out of historic villages, up and down ancient Roman era roads, across medieval bridges buried deep in chestnut forests, past 11th century churches and ruins, many of the Roman roads have visible wheel ruts from centuries of cart use.
There are river crossings and huge wild views over mountains and forests, much of the path is soft under-foot and gently shaded.
Unlike the Frances, or the section I did, you're in no doubt of the history and pedigree of the walk, it's dripping with historical waymarks and reminders.
And yet almost nobody was on the walk.
A mystery.
In Santiago I met up with friends who had continued on along the Frances after Ponferrada, their tales of the Sarria crowds and the morning rush convincing me I'd made the correct call on turning off the Frances, when I told them I'd seen nobody at all on the last stage, a beauty of a walk through forest most of the way, and at the 5klm mark to Santiago I was still on rural lanes, it had them planning their next Camino.
Needless to say, it's not a repeat visit to the Frances.
Implausible but true.
I followed the Via Gebennensis from Geneva to Le-Puy, then the Via Podiensis from Le-Puy to Saint Jean then the Camino Frances from Saint Jean to Ponferrada then the Camino Invierno into Santiago.
On my last day, from Ponte Ulla to Santiago, I was neither passed by nor saw a single other walker.
And that's both surprising and a real shame.
The Invierno was a delight, it dips and bobs in and out of historic villages, up and down ancient Roman era roads, across medieval bridges buried deep in chestnut forests, past 11th century churches and ruins, many of the Roman roads have visible wheel ruts from centuries of cart use.
There are river crossings and huge wild views over mountains and forests, much of the path is soft under-foot and gently shaded.
Unlike the Frances, or the section I did, you're in no doubt of the history and pedigree of the walk, it's dripping with historical waymarks and reminders.
And yet almost nobody was on the walk.
A mystery.
In Santiago I met up with friends who had continued on along the Frances after Ponferrada, their tales of the Sarria crowds and the morning rush convincing me I'd made the correct call on turning off the Frances, when I told them I'd seen nobody at all on the last stage, a beauty of a walk through forest most of the way, and at the 5klm mark to Santiago I was still on rural lanes, it had them planning their next Camino.
Needless to say, it's not a repeat visit to the Frances.